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How to win at gaming - large scale plastic moulding

Author：gly Date: 2024-09-30

Despite price increase nominations going into second quarter, it appeared there was potential for generally flat pricing with the exception of a major downward correction for PP.

Introduced by Zeiger and Spark Industries at the PTXPO, the nozzle is designed for maximum heat transfer and uniformity with a continuous taper for self cleaning.

While prices moved up for three of the five commodity resins, there was potential for a flat trajectory for the rest of the third quarter.

Ultradent's entry of its Umbrella cheek retractor took home the awards for Technical Sophistication and Achievement in Economics and Efficiency at PTXPO.

In this collection of content, we provide expert advice on welding from some of the leading authorities in the field, with tips on such matters as controls, as well as insights on how to solve common problems in welding.

Mixed in among thought leaders from leading suppliers to injection molders and mold makers at the 2023 Molding and MoldMaking conferences will be molders and toolmakers themselves.

Say “manufacturing automation” and thoughts immediately go to the shop floor and specialized production equipment, robotics and material handling systems. But there is another realm of possible automation — the front office.

When, how, what and why to automate — leading robotics suppliers and forward-thinking moldmakers will share their insights on automating manufacturing at collocated event.

Across the show, sustainability ruled in new materials technology, from polyolefins and engineering resins to biobased materials.

Coverage of single-use plastics can be both misleading and demoralizing. Here are 10 tips for changing the perception of the plastics industry at your company and in your community.

Join Wittmann for an engaging webinar on the transformative impact of manufacturing execution systems (MES) in the plastic injection molding industry. Discover how MES enhances production efficiency, quality control and real-time monitoring while also reducing downtime. It will explore the integration of MES with existing systems, emphasizing compliance and traceability for automotive and medical sectors. Learn about the latest advancements in IoT and AI technologies and how they drive innovation and continuous improvement in MES. Agenda: Overview of MES benefits What is MES? Definition, role and brief history Historical perspective and evolution Longevity and analytics Connectivity: importance, standards and integration Advantages of MES: efficiency, real-time data, traceability and cost savings Emerging technologies: IoT and AI in MES

Second quarter started with price hikes in PE and the four volume engineering resins, but relatively stable pricing was largely expected by the quarter’s end.

An electric-driven center ballscrew performs rapid-traverse motions on the Eclipse series of hybrid presses from Sodick Plustech (sold here by Yamazen). After the center ram is locked in position, an accumulator-assisted, doughnut-shaped, central “pancake” hydraulic cylinder surrounding the ballscrew pulls on the tiebars to create clamping force. These hybrids come in sizes of 5.5 to 385 tons, including a vertical 40-tonner. Servomotors also actuate the ejector and plasticating screw, while injection is accomplished hydraulically with the assistance of a gas accumulator for high speed.

Discover how artifical intelligence is revolutionizing plastics processing. Hear from industry experts on the future impact of AI on your operations and envision a fully interconnected plant.

Toggles may have a slight edge in clamp-tonnage build-up time. “A toggle has an amplification ratio at the end of the stroke, meaning it locks up faster than a hydraulic system, says Ward. Lock-up can be as quick as 0.2 sec with a toggle system vs. 0.5 sec for a hydraulic system, he claims.

Hybrid systems are designed to appeal to molders who like some of the features of all-electric machines but do not favor toggle clamps. Debates over the relative merits of toggles and fully hydraulic clamps have persisted for decades. Among the drawbacks cited for toggles are their more limited range of stroke adjustment and the risk that die-height adjustment when the mold is closed can lead to overclamping after the mold warms up and expands. Toggles also reportedly make it difficult to use less than maximum tonnage or to ramp tonnage up and down during a cycle. Some machine builders say that toggles also require more time for mold set-up (die-height adjustment) than a hydraulic or hybrid unit.

The Eltec hybrid from Krauss-Maffei uses electric ballscrews integrated with the tiebars for opening and closing. A self-contained, “closed-loop” hydraulic system buried inside in the fixed platen delivers 1.5 liters of oil to each tiebar for clamping. The “power nut” engages to generate clamp pressure. A “travel nut” is engaged during platen movements.

Hybrid presses are made by the same firms that build hydraulic and all-electric machines, so clearly they feel the hybrids have a place. Yet they still must convince molders why they should spend more for this design than on a hydraulic model, and why they should not go all the way and get an all-electric machine.

Across the show, sustainability ruled in new materials technology, from polyolefins and engineering resins to biobased materials.

Formnext Chicago is an industrial additive manufacturing expo taking place April 8-10, 2025 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Formnext Chicago is the second in a series of Formnext events in the U.S. being produced by Mesago Messe Frankfurt, AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, and Gardner Business Media (our publisher).

A collaboration between show organizer PLASTICS, recycler CPR and size reduction experts WEIMA and Conair recovered and recycled all production scrap at NPE2024.

“Clamp-tonnage build-up will be two to three times faster than a straight hydraulic—and may be as quick as an all-electric,” says Meiki’s Chang. The unit can achieve mold/clamp movements up to 800 mm/sec. Nadem machines also have electric servo-driven ejection, injection, and plastication.

A new choice in injection machines is electric/hydraulic hybrids like this Eltec machine from Krauss-Maffei. Based on hydromechanical two-platen designs, they offer the speed and precision of electric servo drives plus the flexibility of hydraulic clamping.

At present, U.S. molders decline to comment on their experience with hybrid clamps. “It is too early to say what improvements we are getting with the hybrid clamp,” says John Hahn, v.p. of engineering for molder MGS Mfg. Group of Germantown, Wis. The firm recently installed a new Eltec unit from Krauss-Maffei. The press may be used in a clean-room or optical application, Hahn says.

Additive technology creates air pockets in film during orientation, cutting down on the amount of resin needed while boosting opacity, mechanical properties and recyclability.

Mike Sepe has authored more than 25 ANTEC papers and more than 250 articles illustrating the importance of this interdisciplanary approach. In this collection, we present some of his best work during the years he has been contributing for Plastics Technology Magazine.

The flexibility, biocompatibility and stability of silicone make it an essential material for medical device components. However, these components can be challenging to prototype. Thermoset materials such as silicone cannot be melted and built up the way a thermoplastic material can be. There are ways of printing silicone parts, but the results are not as precise and not comparable to injection molded parts. Precision is especially important for medical device assemblies, such as those made by SPT Vilecon.

After successfully introducing a combined conference for moldmakers and injection molders in 2022, Plastics Technology and MoldMaking Technology are once again joining forces for a tooling/molding two-for-one.

When, how, what and why to automate — leading robotics suppliers and forward-thinking moldmakers will share their insights on automating manufacturing at collocated event.

Meiki developed what it calls a pumpless clamping device for its New Advanced Direct Electric Machine (Nadem) series of hybrid-clamp machines. The line currently ranges from 88 to 1430 tons, but Meiki plans to add models up to 2000 tons in the next year. This design uses two servomotors and ballscrews on diagonal corners of the platen for rapid-traverse clamp movements. What’s unique about this design is that the ballscrews—which have their own locking/unlocking mechanisms separate from that on the central ram—continue turning during lock-up. Their motion compresses cylinders built around the ballscrews, moving a small amount of oil out of those cylinders and into the central clamping cylinder to build hydraulic pressure. The result is to push on the corners of the platen and with the center ram, applying more widely distributed pressure than with other designs.

Processors with sustainability goals or mandates have a number of ways to reach their goals. Biopolymers are among them.

Gifted with extraordinary technical know how and an authoritative yet plain English writing style, in this collection of articles Fattori offers his insights on a variety of molding-related topics that are bound to make your days on the production floor go a little bit better.

Introduced by Zeiger and Spark Industries at the PTXPO, the nozzle is designed for maximum heat transfer and uniformity with a continuous taper for self cleaning.

Other machine functions—injection, core pull, ejection, and carriage movement—are powered by a gas accumulator and variable-volume hydraulic pump. This arrangement provide high precision, low noise, and energy consumption half that of a comparable hydraulic machine without compromising performance, says Ward.

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has released final figures for NPE2024: The Plastics Show (May 6-10; Orlando) that officially make it the largest ever NPE in several key metrics.

New designs of medical device components demand a higher level of testing and scrutiny due to the critical nature of their uses and the potential consequences of failure. In health care settings, a malfunctioning device can have life-threatening implications. Rigorous testing is essential to de-risk new designs by ensuring that components function safely and effectively. For this testing to provide meaningful results, the parts need to be representative of production parts. Investment in a steel production tool can be a risky decision point for a product developer, putting leaders in the position of committing to a design that may later need to be changed based on verification and validation test results.

Multiple speakers at Molding 2023 will address the ways simulation can impact material substitution decisions, process profitability and simplification of mold design.

With advocacy, communication and sustainability as three main pillars, Seaholm leads a trade association to NPE that ‘is more active today than we have ever been.’

This month’s resin pricing report includes PT’s quarterly check-in on select engineering resins, including nylon 6 and 66.

Most, though not all, of the new hybrids are two-platen clamps with a hydromechanical style of locking mechanism. Hydromechanical clamps are characterized by split nuts or other means of locking the position of the moving platen before applying clamp tonnage with one or more short-stroke or “pancake” hydraulic cylinders. In the hybrids, electric servomotors instead of hydraulics are used for mold traverse movements.

Second quarter started with price hikes in PE and the four volume engineering resins, but relatively stable pricing was largely expected by the quarter’s end.

technotrans says climate protection, energy efficiency and customization will be key discussion topics at PTXPO as it displays its protemp flow 6 ultrasonic eco and the teco cs 90t 9.1 TCUs.

Demag Plastics Group, Krauss-Maffei, Meiki, Mitsubishi, and Sodick Plustech contend that their hybrid clamp configurations deliver the precision, accuracy, repeatability, and energy savings of servomotor designs along with the power, reduced initial cost, and familiarity of a hydraulic drive—but without the contamination and oil-maintenance issues. These suppliers say hybrid clamp systems, which achieve high-speed mold movements and fast tonnage generation, address issues they view as shortcomings of more traditional clamp styles such as hydraulic toggles, fully hydraulic, hydromechanical, and all-electric toggles. The cost of hybrid machines is in between those of hydraulic and all-electric models.

In this collection of articles, two of the industry’s foremost authorities on screw design — Jim Frankand and Mark Spalding — offer their sage advice on screw design...what works, what doesn’t, and what to look for when things start going wrong.

MHI’s EM machines also have electric plastication, injection, and ejection. The line now spans 720 to 1200 tons, though plans are being considered to add a 1500-tonner and maybe a 2000-ton model. The line may eventually extend to 3000 tons.

Take a deep dive into all of the various aspects of part quoting to ensure you’ve got all the bases—as in costs—covered before preparing your customer’s quote for services.

The toggle clamp is styled to generate clamp forces at an angle to the mold face. Along with the platen design, it helps to drive the clamp force toward the center of the platen for uniform distribution across the mold face, says Ward. He also notes that the motor and pump work only as hard as is required to meet the instantaneous demand of the process and stop during idle portions of the cycle, rather than spilling oil over a relief valve back to the tank. “This hybrid system saves energy,” he claims. “A 200-ton conventional hydraulic machine may need 100 gal of oil, but our unit needs only 1.5 liters.” The hydrostatic system is mounted atop the clamp for ease of access.

While the melting process does not provide perfect mixing, this study shows that mixing is indeed initiated during melting.

The aim of this presentation is to guide you through the factors and the numbers that will help you determine if a robot is a smart investment for your application. Agenda: Why are you considering automation? What problems are you trying to solve? How and why automation can help Crunch the numbers and determine the ROI

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has released final figures for NPE2024: The Plastics Show (May 6-10; Orlando) that officially make it the largest ever NPE in several key metrics.

Plastics Technology’s Tech Days is back! Every Tuesday in October, a series of five online presentations will be given by industry supplier around the following topics: Injection Molding — New Technologies, Efficiencies Film Extrusion — New Technologies, Efficiencies Upstream/Downstream Operations Injection Molding — Sustainability Extrusion — Compounding Coming out of NPE2024, PT identified a variety of topics, technologies and trends that are driving and shaping the evolution of plastic products manufacturing — from recycling/recyclability and energy optimization to AI-based process control and automation implementation. PT Tech Days is designed to provide a robust, curated, accessible platform through which plastics professionals can explore these trends, have direct access to subject-matter experts and develop strategies for applying solutions in their operations.

The new EM line from Mitsubishi (MHI) generates hydraulic clamp force on the four tiebars in the corners of the platen. An electric inverter motor drives the hydraulic system. One servomotor drives a single central ballscrew mechanism to move the platen back and forth. The drive system drives opening and closing motions up to 1.3 times faster than a conventional hydraulic Mitsubishi press. Clamp-speed accuracy is so tight that a zero setting is possible for clamp-slowdown areas, says MHI. The unit provides a mold stopping accuracy of 0.0012 in., which compares favorably to 0.039 in. for MHI’s hydraulic machine, says Tom Geddes. He adds that the platen design helps reduce deflection by at least 50%.

New system automatically cleans mold-cooling lines—including conformal channels—removing rust and calcium, among other deposits, while simultaneously testing for leaks, measuring flow rate and applying rust inhibitor.

August 29-30 in Minneapolis all things injection molding and moldmaking will be happening at the Hyatt Regency — check out who’s speaking on what topics today.

Sustainability continues to dominate new additives technology, but upping performance is also evident. Most of the new additives have been targeted to commodity resins and particularly polyolefins.

Join KraussMaffei for an insightful webinar designed for industry professionals, engineers and anyone interested in the manufacturing processes of PVC pipes. This session will provide a comprehensive understanding of the technology behind the production of high-quality PVC pipes: from raw material preparation to final product testing. Agenda: Introduction to PVC extrusion: overview of the basic principles of PVC pipe extrusion — including the process of melting and shaping PVC resin into pipe forms Equipment and machinery: detailed explanation of the key equipment involved — such as extruders, dies and cooling systems — and their roles in the extrusion process Process parameters: insight into the critical process parameters like temperature, pressure and cooling rates that influence the quality and consistency of the final PVC pipes Energy efficiency: examination of ways to save material and energy use when extruding PVC pipe products

Processors with sustainability goals or mandates have a number of ways to reach their goals. Biopolymers are among them.

The mold and part are then placed in Nexa3D’s xWASH-FIM device. In the washing chamber, the resin is dissolved in solvent, leaving the finished part behind. Besides getting to an injection molded part more quickly, the process also removes some geometric constraints on molding that can require additional tooling in other situations. Unlike a traditional mold, a dissolvable mold does not have to release the part after injection.

Resin drying is a crucial, but often-misunderstood area. This collection includes details on why and what you need to dry, how to specify a dryer, and best practices.

The FIM process starts with a 3D printed mold, its design is the inverse of the desired part and printed from Nexa3D’s xMOLD resin. Once the mold has been printed and assembled, it is placed in a mold base in the injection molding machine. The mold base may be a simple metal plate or a more elaborate master unit die, depending on the application. Material is injected into the cavity to form the part, and the cavity and part are ejected from the mold base to cool. The tooling is compatible with standard injection molding machines, and no special modifications are required.

Sodick Plustech sources say electric drive provides faster acceleration and deceleration of mold travel, as well as greater position accuracy. Meanwhile, direct hydraulic clamping reportedly provides finer pressure control, more uniform pressure distribution, delicate mold protection, and greater die-height range.

In this collection, which is part one of a series representing some of John’s finest work, we present you with five articles that we think you will refer to time and again as you look to solve problems, cut cycle times and improve the quality of the parts you mold.

While prices moved up for three of the five commodity resins, there was potential for a flat trajectory for the rest of the third quarter.

Across all process types, sustainability was a big theme at NPE2024. But there was plenty to see in automation and artificial intelligence as well.

Despite price increase nominations going into second quarter, it appeared there was potential for generally flat pricing with the exception of a major downward correction for PP.

For the most part, machine builders make no claims for increased speed or energy efficiency of hybrid clamps relative to standard hydromechanical presses. However, Meiki points out that some cycle-time savings can be achieved in mold opening and closing with servomotors and ball screws to drive the moving platen. This system has low inertia and very quick acceleration and deceleration—only 100 millisec from zero to maximum speed—as well as a position accuracy of 0.05 mm (0.002 in.) for the switchover position to decelerate from high speed.

Implementing a production monitoring system as the foundation of a ‘smart factory’ is about integrating people with new technology as much as it is about integrating machines and computers. Here are tips from a company that has gone through the process.

At captive processor McConkey, a new generation of artificial intelligence models, highlighted by ChatGPT, is helping it wade through the shortage of skilled labor and keep its production lines churning out good parts.

Take a deep dive into all of the various aspects of part quoting to ensure you’ve got all the bases—as in costs—covered before preparing your customer’s quote for services.

This month’s resin pricing report includes PT’s quarterly check-in on select engineering resins, including nylon 6 and 66.

Successfully starting or restarting an injection molding machine is less about ticking boxes on a rote checklist and more about individually assessing each processing scenario and its unique variables.

Like other two-platen, hydromechanical machines, most of the new hybrid clamps reduce the overall machine length vs. toggles or fully hydraulic machines. Compared with hydraulic two-platen machines, the hybrids are said to offer increased precision and accuracy and reduced maintenance.

Sustainability continues to dominate new additives technology, but upping performance is also evident. Most of the new additives have been targeted to commodity resins and particularly polyolefins.

Plastics Technology covers technical and business Information for Plastics Processors in Injection Molding, Extrusion, Blow Molding, Plastic Additives, Compounding, Plastic Materials, and Resin Pricing. About Us

August 29-30 in Minneapolis all things injection molding and moldmaking will be happening at the Hyatt Regency — check out who’s speaking on what topics today.

Another advantage claimed for hybrids is the “closed-loop” nature of their hydraulic systems. The hydraulics are completely encapsulated within one of the platens—instead of being recirculated to a central tank—so leaks are much less likely. Only a small amount of oil is used in these systems, which are designed to require no servicing by the molder. “The oil reservoir for the clamping units holds just 1 gal of oil,” says Henry Chang, Meiki’s assistant manager of customer service. “The amount is so small that the machine ships with the oil in it.” Sodick Plustech’s Eclipse and Krauss-Maffei’s Eltec machines use only about 1.5 gal of oil.

Learn about sustainable scrap reprocessing—this resource offers a deep dive into everything from granulator types and options, to service tips, videos and technical articles.

SPT Vilecon, a development and manufacturing services provider in the medical device and pharmaceutical industries, has implemented a prototyping process that de-risks and accelerates the development process by going directly to a representative, injection molded part. Without creating a steel tool. The process is Nexa3D’s freeform injection molding technology (FIM), which uses additive manufacturing to create single-use, dissolvable injection molds.

So far, few hybrid units have been sold in the U.S. Meiki leads the way with about a dozen sold here. Krauss-Maffei has around four hybrid machines at North American beta-test sites. Mitsubishi aims to sell 10-20 hybrid presses this year in North America, says Tom Geddes, general manager of engineering. The company has delivered more than 100 units to clients in Asia.

In a time where sustainability is no longer just a buzzword, the food and beverage packaging industry is required to be at the forefront of this innovation. By adopting circular packaging processes and solutions, producers can meet regulatory requirements while also satisfying consumer demand and enhancing brand reputation. Join Husky to learn more about the broader implications of the circular economy — as well as how leading brands are leveraging this opportunity to reduce costs, increase design flexibility and boost product differentiation. Agenda: The cost and operational benefits of embracing circularity Key materials in circular packaging — including rPET and emerging bioplastics How to design a circular food and beverage package Strategies for selecting sustainable closures to future-proof packaging solutions Optimization and streamlining of production processes for enhanced efficiency How Husky Technologies can enable your sustainable success

According to SPT Vilecon CEO Bjarne Andersen, FIM saves customers both time and money. By getting testing done faster and on prototypes made with the right materials, Vilecon can get a design to a “fast fail” or to market sooner — whichever the case may be — thus shortening the time before a product starts generating revenue.

Mold maintenance is critical, and with this collection of content we’ve bundled some of the very best advice we’ve published on repairing, maintaining, evaluating and even hanging molds on injection molding machines.

While prices moved up for three of the five commodity resins, there was potential for a flat trajectory for the rest of the third quarter.

“Toggle units have a shorter locking time and pressure-generation time, since the design or kinematics leverage a larger force with less energy,” says John Ward, technical sales manager at Van Dorn Demag. His firm’s El-Exis machines are the only members of the hybrid category that have toggles powered by an electric servo-driven hydraulic pump.

Across all process types, sustainability was a big theme at NPE2024. But there was plenty to see in automation and artificial intelligence as well.

Resin drying is a crucial, but often-misunderstood area. This collection includes details on why and what you need to dry, how to specify a dryer, and best practices.

Core Technology Molding turned to Mold-Masters E-Multi auxiliary injection unit to help it win a job and dramatically change its process.

Toggle critics also raise questions about maintaining mold parallelism if the linkages don’t all perform or wear uniformly. There is also potential for higher platen deflection since most toggles generate force on the corners of the platen rather than the center. (Nissei recently came out with an all-electric three-stage toggle clamp that answers this criticism by applying force at the center of the platen.) Finally, the need for grease to lubricate toggle linkages presents potential contamination issues that counteract the cleanliness argument for all-electrics.

This Knowledge Center provides an overview of the considerations needed to understand the purchase, operation, and maintenance of a process cooling system.

All-electric machines have made considerable headway in the marketplace, despite their higher price, and have accounted for 20% to 25% of U.S. machine sales in the last three years. All-electrics are said to provide energy savings, greater speed and precision, and cleaner, quieter operation than hydraulic-powered machines. However, one aspect of all-electric machines that may not appeal to some molders is that they are toggle-clamp machines. The rare exceptions are some small (3.2 to 7.5 tons) non-toggle electric machines built by Nissei. According to Nissei sources, this non-toggle approach is limited to such small presses because it requires larger servo motors, which add to the price premium for electric machines.

“The toggle has greater opening force than a hydraulic clamp, and thus the toggle lends itself well to deep-draw parts,” adds Ward. Cycle time in the molding phase is also an area of debate. “With an electric driven system a user can start injection while the clamp is closing, so functions can be overlapped for cycle time savings,” says Milacron’s Royer. “Likewise, during the cooling phase, we can unlock and decompress the tonnage without opening the clamp. This can minimize the delay and shave half a second of cycle time. This unlocking step can be done with a hydraulic system, but there is a question of accuracy,” says Royer.

Beyond Plastic and partners have created a certified biodegradable PHA compound that can be injection molded into 38-mm closures in a sub 6-second cycle from a multicavity hot runner tool.

Exhibitors and presenters at the plastics show emphasized 3D printing as a complement and aid to more traditional production processes.

Hybrid clamp designs that combine electric servomotors with novel hydraulic circuit configurations are now competing for molders’ attention as alternatives to all-electric or all-hydraulic clamping systems. A handful of OEMs supplying these new clamp styles say they can deliver greater processing speed and precision than conventional hydraulic-powered clamps at lower cost than all-electric machines.

Learn about sustainable scrap reprocessing—this resource offers a deep dive into everything from granulator types and options, to service tips, videos and technical articles.

Additive technology creates air pockets in film during orientation, cutting down on the amount of resin needed while boosting opacity, mechanical properties and recyclability.

Thousands of people visit our Supplier Guide every day to source equipment and materials. Get in front of them with a free company profile.

This Knowledge Center provides an overview of the considerations needed to understand the purchase, operation, and maintenance of a process cooling system.

A development and manufacturing service provider is using dissolvable molds to build injection molded silicone prototypes.

According to Staal, the same characteristics that make FIM a good solution for medical device development also make it a good choice for other highly regulated industries, such as aerospace and automotive.

In between all-electric and hydraulic-powered injection machines, a new species of hybrid clamp has emerged. Advocates say it combines the best qualities of electric servos and hydraulics without their disadvantages.

Until recently, the term “hybrid” applied mainly to machines that used electric-driven screw plastication but hydraulics everywhere else. The case for that type of “hybrid” is that it provides most of the achievable energy savings at the smallest additional cost. Now there’s a new kind of hybrid in town, and its rationale is not mainly about energy savings.

Multiple speakers at Molding 2023 will address the ways simulation can impact material substitution decisions, process profitability and simplification of mold design.

With advocacy, communication and sustainability as three main pillars, Seaholm leads a trade association to NPE that ‘is more active today than we have ever been.’

technotrans says climate protection, energy efficiency and customization will be key discussion topics at PTXPO as it displays its protemp flow 6 ultrasonic eco and the teco cs 90t 9.1 TCUs.

Join Engel in exploring the future of battery molding technology. Discover advancements in thermoplastic composites for battery housings, innovative automation solutions and the latest in large-tonnage equipment designed for e-mobility — all with a focus on cost-efficient solutions. Agenda: Learn about cutting-edge thermoplastic composites for durable, sustainable and cost-efficient battery housings Explore advanced automation concepts for efficient and scalable production See the latest large-tonnage equipment and technology innovations for e-mobility solutions

In this three-part collection, veteran molder and moldmaker Jim Fattori brings to bear his 40+ years of on-the-job experience and provides molders his “from the trenches” perspective on on the why, where and how of venting injection molds. Take the trial-and-error out of the molding venting process.

Boy will debut three new models in its Electric series of machines, which feature a redesigned and more compact drive and inverter technology.

“Because errors discovered after we have sourced our metal tooling are expensive and time-consuming to fix, freeform injection molding allows us to replace the binary ‘invest-before-you-can-test’ paradigm of metal tooling with a gradual migration from prototyping that promotes a much higher decision quality, along with lower costs, shorter lead times — and happier development teams,” Staal says.

Using a strain gauge on the tiebar, mold-protection sensitivity can be set as low as 5 bar (72.55 psi), and response within 0.2 mm of travel is reportedly achievable.

Exhibitors and presenters at the plastics show emphasized 3D printing as a complement and aid to more traditional production processes.

Demag Plastic Group’s El-Exis S series (sold here by Van Dorn Demag) is designed as a high-speed packaging machine. It currently comes in sizes of 66 to 462 tons, though models up to 1000 tons are planned. The El-Exis S has a different kind of hybrid clamp from all the others. It uses self-contained hydraulics (which Demag calls a “hydrostatic drive”) to drive a toggle. The hydraulic pump is driven by an AC frequency motor. The system has response time of 12 millisec, platen speeds up to 25 in./sec, and position control as tight as 0.01 mm, says John Ward, technical sales manager. “We felt that a self-contained hydrostatic drive was a better option than using components such as belt drives or rack-and-pinion systems. The latter may be more sensitive to wear and stretching and can yield variations in accuracy and be less responsive,” he says.

Plastics processors are finding applications for 3D printing around the plant and across the supply chain. Here are 8 examples to look for at NPE2024.

Discover how artifical intelligence is revolutionizing plastics processing. Hear from industry experts on the future impact of AI on your operations and envision a fully interconnected plant.

Hybrids are said to be more suitable than toggles for coining or injection-compression processes, which require injecting into a partly open mold, followed by full closing and lock-up. Thermosets or optical lenses are applications that commonly use injection-compression, notes Paul Caprio, v.p. for injection molding at Krauss-Maffei.

While the melting process does not provide perfect mixing, this study shows that mixing is indeed initiated during melting.

While the major correction in PP prices was finally underway, generally stable pricing was anticipated for the other four commodity resins.

Join this webinar to explore the transformative benefits of retrofitting your existing injection molding machines (IMMs). Engel will guide you through upgrading your equipment to enhance monitoring, control and adaptability — all while integrating digital technologies. You'll learn about the latest trends in IMM retrofitting (including Euromap interfaces and plasticizing retrofits) and discover how to future-proof your machines for a competitive edge. With insights from industry experts, it'll walk you through the decision-making process, ensuring you make informed choices that drive your business forward. Agenda: Maximize the value of your current IMMs through strategic retrofitting Learn how to integrate digital technologies to enhance monitoring and control Explore the benefits of Euromap interfaces and plasticizing retrofits Understand how retrofitting can help meet new product demands and improve adaptability Discover how Engel can support your retrofitting needs, from free consultations to execution

Ultradent's entry of its Umbrella cheek retractor took home the awards for Technical Sophistication and Achievement in Economics and Efficiency at PTXPO.

While the major correction in PP prices was finally underway, generally stable pricing was anticipated for the other four commodity resins.

Demag’s El-Exis Series uses an electric motor to power a “hydrostatic” closed-loop hydraulic system to power a toggle. This arrangement downsizes the hydraulic accumulator and pump package by 66%.

Notwithstanding these criticisms, toggle clamps remain popular and they have plenty of defenders. At least 17 firms offer all-electric presses with toggle clamps. Says Kent Royer, product sales manager for Milacron’s Roboshot electric-toggle machines, “Toggle clamps are a proven technology and offer the user reliability, simplicity, and rigidity. We have tests that show an electrically driven toggle clamp can achieve ±0.0005-in. positioning accuracy. That means that the molder who is adding automation can be sure that the robot will find the part in the same place every time.”

Core Technology Molding turned to Mold-Masters E-Multi auxiliary injection unit to help it win a job and dramatically change its process.

The pipe and fittings manufacturer’s new 200,000-square-foot facility represents a $200 million investment and will create 150 jobs.

While prices moved up for three of the five commodity resins, there was potential for a flat trajectory for the rest of the third quarter.

Mixed in among thought leaders from leading suppliers to injection molders and mold makers at the 2023 Molding and MoldMaking conferences will be molders and toolmakers themselves.

Hybrid clamping designs typically start with hydromechanical locking. This EM unit from Mitsubishi uses a split-nut lock system.

Sodick Plustech’s Eclipse line uses a central servomotor and ball screw for mold opening and closing. After clamping locks engage the central ram, a central hydraulic “pancake” cylinder pulls on the tiebars for clamping.

Hybrid presses are well-suited to injection-compression molding. Sodick Plustech also offers the option of this novel “ejection-compression” function using its electric-powered ejector.

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Krauss-Maffei’s two-platen Eltec hybrid line spans a range of 55 to 165 tons. These models use electric ballscrews integrated with the tiebars to drive rapid-traverse open/close movements and a hydromechanical system for lock-up. Once the split-nut locks around each of the tiebars, the system delivers oil to four small short-stroke cylinders on the tiebars in the stationary platen. Clamping occurs in the four corners of the platen, like a standard hydromechanical or toggle press. The cylinder movement is only 6 mm and uses about 1.5 liters of oil for each tiebar. “Our standard C series unit would require about 180 liters [45 gal] of oil,” says Caprio. Tonnage build-up is as quick as 0.5 sec, he says. A servo pump drives the hydraulic system. Electric motors drive injection, ejection, and plastication.

“xMOLD is unique in enabling us to manage complex part features with ease, as we can simply dissolve the mold elements that will normally require high-cost steel mold elements like sliders or collapsible cores,“ says Lasse Staal, director of freeform injection molding at Nexa3D.

For clamping, the ballscrews resume turning and pressurize hydraulic cylinders (3). Valves open to deliver a small volume of oil from those cylinders to the central ram (4). Tonnage is built by pushing with the ballscrews and central ram.